Form for use in making brick packs



Nov. 4, 1952 c. R. FRIESNER FORM FOR USE IN MAKING BRICK PACKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1950 INVENTOR. C/cz zzde R Frieswer BY OM MWm/aBWa/MJ NOV. 4, 1952 c, R, FRlESNER 2,616,361

FORM FOR USE IN MAKING BRICK PACKS Filed May 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 34INVENTOR. Claude R Fries/2w M, W wiiil/fi Well C. R. FRIESNER FORM FORUSE IN MAKING BRICK PACKS Nov. 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3,1950 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. C/a aa e R Frzes/zer Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FORM FOR USE IN MAKING BRICK PACKS New York ApplicationMay 3, 1950, Serial No. 159,844

10 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of packaging for shipment such objectsas building bricks, fire brick, paving brick, tile, cobble stones,wooden blocks and the like, that is to say, articles of reasonablyregular outline, small size and relatively great weight. For sake ofconvenience the term brick will be used herein as generic to all suchobjects.

The most important object of the invention is to improve the efliciencyand decrease the cost of packing and shipping bricks.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the assembling of largenumbers of bricks into compact self-sustained shipping units.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form foruse in preparing a package of bricks assembled and bound into a com-pactstack capable of withstanding rough handling without disintegration andarranged in a form in which loading and transporting operations may becarried out with greatly increased facility and safety.

An important feature of the invention resides in a combined pallet andform by means of which a package having the desired characteristics mayquickly be assembled.

Another feature of the invention comprises first forming a plurality ofspaced rows of bricks, encasing said rows with tough, flexible material,laying courses of brick on the encased rows to 'form a compact stacksupported at spaced intervals on said cased rows of bricks, and thenbinding first the stack and then the combination of the stack andsupporting rows with metal bands.

Another feature of the invention consists in a rectangular stack ofbricks, cased and bound as a unit, and bound to a plurality of spacedrows of bricks serving to provide parallel spaces between rows for theaccommodation of the forks of a lift truck.

In addition to the obvious advantages of speedy facile packagingafforded by the features of the .invention, it is perhaps equallyimportant that a package of bricks assembled in accordance with theinvention is so designed that it can be handled without fear ofdisruption or chipping of the contents; moreover the complete packageconsists only of the bricks, a casing of paper board and the retainingbands. In other Words, there is no heavy apparatus Which adds to theshipping weight.

These and other objects and features of the invention together withincident advantages will be more readily understood and appreciated fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereofselected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the metal form about which thepackage is assembled,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the form to which has been added thebottom casing sheet, the bricks which are to form the legs of the brickpack and a portion of the bricks forming the package,

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the assembled brick stack with aportion of the upper casing material in place,

Fig. 4 is a View in perspective showing the assembled brick package withall of the upper casing material in place and a portion of the wirebinder in place,

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a completed package elevated from theform in which the package was assembled,

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of :an alternative embodiment of theform constructed of wood and metal.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there .is provided a base or form on whichthe bricks are assembled for packing. The form comprises a platform inon which are welded or otherwise secured, for example by means of bolts,a series of six parallel rows II, l2, l3, l4, l5 and 16 of ledges I!designed to serve as supports for casing material and base rows ofbricks as shown in Figs. '2, 3 and 4 and at the same time provided forgrooves or slots through which binding wire or bands can be passed forthe purpose of encompassing the completed package as shown in Figs. 4and 5. The ledges H are each composed of a bottom member l8, sidemembers l9, end members 20 and upwardly extending parallel walls 22 andparallel walls 22 and 25. Adjacent side and end members are secured atthe edge 2! thereof, for example by a continuity of the sheet metal or awelded joint. Alternatively, the ledges l1 may be die-stamped from sheetmetal or cast in the form as shown in Fig. 1. Also as an alternative,the bottom member I8 of the ledge I! may be eliminated and the sidemembers I9 and end members 20 may be welded to the platform l0.

Pairs of parallel walls 22 andparallel walls 22 and 25 extend upwardlyto a height sufficient to provide upwardly opening channels for easingmaterial and bricks placed in the channels formed by parallel walls 22and parallel side walls 22 and 25 as shown in Fig. 2. The parallel sidewalls 22 and the parallel side walls 22 and 25 have slots 2'4 reachingto the platform l and aligned transversely of the walls foraccommodating banding material extending transversely under the baserows of bricks. These channels are open at both ends. The adjacent sidesl9 and the ends 20 extend upwardly to a height sufficient to elevate thecasing material and bricks above the platform ID as shown in Fig. 2 toprovide grooves or slots for the passage of binding wire or tape underthe casing material. The ledges I! are spaced on the base plate ID toprovide grooves 23 and 24 between the ledges H. The respective grooves23 and 24 between opposing ledges are in alignment across the length andbreadth of the base plate In. The outermost side walls 25 and the endwalls 26 extend upwardly to a height greater than that of side walls 22to provide a retainer for the lower portions of the casing material asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. The number of ledges H in a given row and therelative lengths of respective ledges I1 are determined by the numberand spacing of grooves 24 desired for the passage of binding wires ortapes.

The dimensions of the platform I0 and of the ledges I! are determined inpart by the size and shape of the bricks which are to be packaged and inpart by the manner in which the bricks are to beplaced in the form, forexample, on

their sides or their faces, and parallel to or transverse with respectto the rows of ledges H.

' as in Fig. 5.

The sheet metal employed in fabricating the platform I 0 and. the ledgesIT is selected for thickness and strength characteristics to be at leastsuflicient to support the weight of the load of bricks of the type andquantity for which the form is to be employed,'desirably with a safetyfactor sufiicient to insure that the ledges U will withstand crumplingor buckling under the weight of the bricks. It has been foundsatisfactory to use 12 gauge sheet steel for the ledges I1 and 16 guagesheet steel for the platform Ill. Although the form illustrated in Fig.1 is constructed of sheet metal, any other suitable material may besubstituted. The entire form may be stamped or otherwise fashioned fromsheet steel, or billets of steel or other metals. Various other types ofconstruction may be employed insofar as they result in a form which willachieve the purpose in substantially the manner pro- 'vided herein.

Upon the form described in the preceding paragraphs there is placed asheet 2! of heavy corrugated paper, fiberboard, chip board, or the like,that is to say, a tough flexible material which may be creased andfolded without rupturing but which tends to hold its folded shape. Thefolds are made to form channels as in Fig. 2, conforming to the contourof the channels provided by the side walls 25 and 22 and also byopposing side walls 22 in the interior of the form. Rows of bricks 28are placed in the outermost channels over the conforming sheet 2'! andthe end flap portions 29 of the sheet 2] are folded over the rows ofbricks 28. A row of bricks 30 is laid transversely in the interiorchannel formed by the opposing side walls 22. The bricks may be laid ontheir sides or faces, depending upon the manner in which the form isdesigned. A full course 3| of bricks is laid over the flaps 29, theexposed portions of the sheet H and the center row of bricks 28, thebricks in the course 3| being laid side by side and parallel to the rowsof bricks 28. The bricks in course 3| may be laid flat or on side asdesired. In Fig. 2 they are shown on side. Over the course 3| is laid asecond course 32 in which the bricks are laid on side and at rightangles to the bricks in the first course 3|. The next course 33 is laidat right angles to the bricks in course 32. Additional courses of bricksare laid in edgewise relation and alternating in direction until apackage of 500 bricks, more or less, has been assembled as an integralstack.

The next steps in the assembly of the package are illustrated in Figs. 3and 4 wherein four sheets 34 of corrugated paper are folded about thecorners of the stack of bricks and are overlapped to form a continuouscasing surrounding the side walls of the stack of bricks. Furthermoreeach sheet 34 is cut at the corner fold and folded at the top or creasedand folded to form a flange 35 which laps over the upper margin of thestack. It will'be noted that the vertical and upper horizontal edges ofthe stack are protected by the casing 34. The outermost sides 25 and thecenter ends 26 serve as means for holding the corrugated paperinpositionon the stack of bricks previous to the binding operation. The bindingwires 42 are inserted in the grooves 23 and 24 in the space below thestack of bricks and are passed through these grooves from one side ofthe stack to the other and from the front of the stack to the rear. Thebinding wire is then drawn upwardly along the respective side walls ofthe cased stack and then bent over the top where the ends overlap. Thewires are then stressed tightly around the stack so that compactingpressure is exerted upon the stack of bricks. The ends of the wires arethen twisted to fasten them together as shown at 36 in Fig. 4. In placeof wire for binding purposes any banding material such as flat metalstrips, pressuresensitive tape or other forms of binding material may beemployed,'and the term band as used in the present application is meantto include any of these materials.

The package is then complete and may conveniently be elevated from theform as shown in Fig. 5. For this purpose a conventional fork lift truckmay be employed. Thereafter the package may be deposited on any levelsurface. In the completed package the bricks in the lower rows 28 serveas supporting legs or as a pallet integral with the package.

An alternative embodiment of the metal form shown in Fig. 1 isillustrated in Fig. 6. This form comprises three transverse boards 31 towhich three timbers 38 are secured while a platform 39 is secured to theupper surfaces of the timbers 38. Two parallel side walls 48 are securedalong their lower margins to the outermost'of the three timbers 3B andextend upwardlyfrom the plate 39. Each side wall '49 is provided withthree downwardly extending slots 5! open at their upper ends andextending down approximately to the level, more or less, of theplatformSS. In an alternative embodiment, the platform 39 may be groovedat the location of the slots 4| to facilitate the passage of the bands42 from one side wall to the other.

Secured to the upper surface of the platform 39 are pairs of parallelside Walls formed by opposed angle irons 13 and 44 composed; of alignedsections separated, as it were, by slots 45.

Flat parallel spacers 46, also sectioned or slotted, are secured to thebase platform 39 at the base of the side walls 40 and contiguous withthe flat vertical walls of the angle irons 43 and M. The package ofbricks is assembled on this form exactly as described in conjunctionwith the metal form as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5.

As an alternative method of binding the stack of bricks, the bandspassing from one sidewall to the'other as in Fig. 6 may be laid over therows of bricks in the channels after the flaps of the sheet materialhave been folded over. An advantage of the package shown in Figs. 4 and5 is that the banding or strapping is all done at the same time afterthe package has been completely assembled.

Although I prefer to use flexible steel wires for the strapping of thepackage of bricks, I also contemplate the use of flat bands; the wires,however, are less likely to cut through the corrugated paper casing andgrind against the edges of the bricks.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 110,723, filed August 17, 1949, now Patent No.2,596,071, granted May 6, 1952.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A form for use in assembling a package of bricks, comprising aplatform, pairs of parallel walls extending upward from the platform,each pair of walls defining an upwardly opening channel for receivingsheet material for encasing bricks and adapted to have a row of brickslaid therein to establish encased parallel base rows of bricks, ledgesat opposite sides of the bottom of each channel for supporting the baserows of bricks above the platform and spaced apart to define anopen-ended groove in the bottom of the channel for receiving bandingmaterial under the sheet material and base row of bricks therein, andsaid walls and ledges having slots reaching to the grooves and alignedtransversely of the walls and ledges for receiving banding materialextending transversely under the sheet material and'base rows of bricks.

2. A form for use in assembling a package of bricks, comprising aplatform, three pairs of par allel walls extending upward from theplatform, each pair of walls defining an upwardly opening channel forreceiving sheet material for encasing bricks and adapted to have a rowof bricks laid therein to establish three encased parallel base rows ofbricks, the channels being so spaced that the tines of the fork of alift truck may enter endwise in the spaces between the channels fromeither of the two opposite sides of the platform at the ends of thechannels, each channel being open at both ends for accommodating bandingmaterial under the sheet material and base row of bricks therein, andsaid walls having slots reaching to the bottom of the channel andaligned transversely of the walls for accommodating banding materialextending transversely under the sheet material and base rows of bricks.

3. A form for use in assembling a package of bricks, comprising aplatform, three pairs of parallel walls extending upward from theplatform, each pair of walls defining an upwardly opening channel forreceiving sheet material for encasing bricks and adapted to have a rowof bricks laid therein to establish three encased parallel base rows ofbricks, the channels being so spaced that the tines of the fork of alift truck may enter endwise in the spacesbetween the channels fromeither'of the two opposite sides ofthe platform in the ends of thechannels, ledges at opposite sides of the bottom of each'cha-nn'e'l forsupporting the base rows of bricks'above the platform and spa-cedapartto define an open-ended "groove in the bottom of the channel forreceiving banding material under the sheet material and base row ofbricks therein, and said walls and ledges having slots reaching to thegrooves and'aligned transversely of the walls and ledges for receivingbanding material extending transversely under the sheet material andbase rows of bricks.

4. A form for use in assembling a package of bricks, comprising arectangular platform, three pairs of parallel walls extending upwardfrom the platform defining upwardly opening outer channels along twoopposite sides of the platform, and an intermediate upwardly openingchannel between the two outer channels, each channel being adapted toreceive sheet material for encasing bricks and adapted to have a row ofbricks laid therein, thereby to establish three encased parallel baserows of bricks, the channels being so spaced that the tines of the forkof a lift truck may enter endwise in the spaces between the channelsfrom either of the other two sides of platform, ledges at opposite sidesof the bottom of each channel for supporting the base rows of bricksabove the platform and spaced apart to define an open-ended groove inthe bottom of the channel for receiving banding material under the sheetmaterial and base row of bricks therein, and said walls and ledgeshaving slots reaching to the grooves and aligned transversely of thewalls and ledges for receiving banding material extending transverselyunder the sheet material base rows of bricks.

5. A form as set forth in claim 4, wherein the width of each of the twoouter channels corresponds to the width of a brick, and wherein thewidth of the intermediate channel corresponds to the length of a brick.

6. A form as set forth in claim 4, wherein the outer walls of the outerchannels extend higher than the inner walls of the outer channels.

7. A form as set forth in claim 4, wherein walls are provided at theends of the intermediate channel on opposite sides of the groove in thebottom of the intermediate channel, said end walls extending higher thanthe side walls of the intermediate channel.

8. A form as set forth in claim 4, wherein the outer walls of the outerchannels extend higher than the inner walls of the outer channels andwherein walls are provided at the ends of the intermediate channel onopposite sides of the groove in the bottom of the intermediate channelextending higher than the side walls of the intermediate channel.

9. A form as set forth in claim 4, wherein the walls and ledges areformed by a series of members of angle-shape in transverse crosssection, each member having a horizontally extending part fixed to theplatform forming the ledge and a vertical part forming the side wall ofthe channel, the members in each series being spaced apart in thedirection of the length of the channels to provide the slots.

10. A form for use in assembling a package of bricks, comprising aplatform, means establishing parallel upwardly opening channels on theplatform, each channel being adapted to receive sheet material forencasing bricks and to have a row of bricks laid therein to establishencased parallel spaced-apart base rows of bricks with the uppersurfaces of the base rows above the platform, each channel having agroove in its bottom of less width than the channel extending the fulllength of the channel and open at both ends for receiving bandingmaterial, the channels and grooves being transversely traversed bycross-passages for receiving banding material transverse to thefirst-mentioned banding material. 4

CLAUDE R. FRIESNER.

8 REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Halteman Oct.7, 1930 Woodrufi Nov. 10, 1942

